Foldable picture frame with picture, blank and method for producing the same

Abstract

A blank for forming a one-piece picture frame with picture includes a blank body having front and rear surfaces, a central rectangular picture portion formed thereon with a picture on the front surface. The blank further includes four wing portions extending from the four margins of the rectangular picture portion and the four wing portions are foldable into four rectangular tubular frame sections. Twelve locking mechanisms are used to lock the four frame sections in a folded position. A method of forming the picture frame with picture is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A blank of foldable sheet material for forming a picture frame with picture, the blank ( 10 ) comprising:
 (a) a blank body ( 12 ) having a front surface ( 14 ) and a rear surface ( 16 ); 
 (b) a central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) provided at a central portion of the blank body ( 12 ) and adapted to form thereon on the front surface ( 14 ) thereof a picture ( 18 ); 
 (c) two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ) extending from two opposite first margins ( 32 ,  32 ) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) respectively; and 
 (d) two opposite second wing portions ( 30 ′,  30 ′) extending from two opposite second margins ( 32 ′,  32 ′) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) respectively; 
 (e) wherein each of the first and second wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ′) comprises four parallel fold lines ( 34 ,  34 ′) parallel with respect to the margin from which the wing portion extends, and defines an elongate frame-simulation panel ( 40 ,  40 ′), a first elongate lock panel ( 42 ,  42 ′), a second elongate lock panel ( 44 ,  44 ′) and an elongate end panel ( 46 ,  46 ′) in an order from the margin ( 32 ,  32 ′); each elongate frame-simulation panel ( 40 ,  40 ′) being printed thereon with a frame-simulating printing simulating a frame surface of a conventional photo frame; 
 (f) wherein the four wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ′) are foldable rearwards about the fold lines ( 34 ,  34 ′) to a folded position where the four end panels ( 46 ,  46 ′) rest on the four margins ( 32 ,  32 ′) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) at the rear surface ( 16 ) thereof respectively, thereby forming four rectangular tubular frame sections ( 50 ,  50 ′) extending along the four margins ( 32 ,  32 ′) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) at the rear surface ( 16 ) thereof; 
 (g) an elongate panel extension ( 64 ) extending from each opposite end of each second elongate lock panels ( 44 ) of the two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ), and flippable about a transverse fold line ( 62 ) formed between the elongate panel extension ( 64 ) and the opposite end of the second elongate lock panel ( 44 ) of the two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ); 
 (h) a slit ( 60 ) formed along each transverse fold line ( 62 ) at a middle portion thereof; and 
 (i) a tab ( 66 ) formed at each opposite end of each second elongate lock panel ( 44 ′) of the two opposite second wing portions ( 30 ′,  30 ′); 
 (j) wherein after the two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ) are folded into the folded position, the four elongate panel extensions ( 64 ) are flippable 90 degrees about the transverse fold lines ( 62 ) towards the two opposite second margins ( 32 ′,  32 ′) such that the elongate panel extensions ( 64 ) are held within the two tubular frame sections ( 50 ′,  50 ′) formed after the two opposite second wing portions ( 30 ′,  30 ′) are folded into the folded position, and wherein the four tabs ( 66 ) are inserted into and engaged with the four slits ( 60 ) respectively at four corners of the picture frame, thereby locking the four tubular frame sections ( 50 ,  50 ′) in the folded position. 
 
     
     
       2. The blank as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (a) a flap ( 70 ) formed on a side edge of each opposite end portion of each first elongate lock panel ( 42 ′) of the two opposite second wing portions ( 30 ′,  30 ′), and the side edge being contiguous with and perpendicular to the opposite end of the second elongate lock panel ( 44 ′) of the two opposite second wing portions ( 30 ′,  30 ′) on which the tab ( 66 ) is formed; and 
 (b) a shaped slit ( 80 ) formed on each opposite end portion of each first elongate lock panel ( 42 ) of the two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ), each shaped slit ( 80 ) comprising a transverse slit ( 81 ) and two longitudinal slits ( 82 ) extending from two opposite ends of the transverse slit ( 81 ) respectively towards a central portion of the first elongate lock panel ( 42 ), and each shaped slit ( 80 ) defining a temporarily covered aperture ( 83 ) and a cover ( 87 ); 
 (c) wherein the four flaps ( 70 ) are disposed over the four temporarily covered apertures ( 83 ) respectively after the four wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ′) are folded into the folded position, and the four flaps ( 70 ) are flippable through the temporarily covered apertures ( 83 ) and engageable with the four apertures ( 83 ) respectively, thereby locking the four rectangular tubular frame sections ( 50 ,  50 ′) in the folded position. 
 
     
     
       3. The blank as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each flap ( 70 ) has two opposite sides formed with two protruding portions ( 71 ) respectively and defining two opposite undercuts ( 72 ) with two locking points ( 73 ) disposed at two opposite ends of a base ( 74 ) of the flap ( 70 ) respectively, and each aperture ( 83 ) has two opposite sides formed with two oppositely facing protruding portions ( 84 ) respectively, and defining two corresponding opposite undercuts ( 85 ) with two corresponding locking points ( 86 ) disposed at two opposite ends of the transverse slit ( 81 ); and wherein the flap ( 70 ) at the two protruding portions ( 71 ) has a width longer than that of the aperture ( 83 ) at the two oppositely facing protruding portions ( 84 ), whereby when the flap ( 70 ) is flipped through the temporarily closed aperture ( 83 ), the two protruding portions ( 71 ) of the flap ( 70 ) are retainable under the two oppositely facing protruding portions ( 84 ) of the aperture ( 83 ) respectively, and the two opposite locking points ( 73 ) of two opposite undercuts ( 72 ) of the flap ( 70 ) are engageable with the two corresponding locking points ( 86 ) of the two corresponding opposite undercuts ( 85 ) of the aperture ( 83 ) respectively, thereby locking the four tubular frame sections ( 50 ,  50 ′) in the folded position. 
     
     
       4. A picture frame with picture formed from a blank of foldable sheet material as claimed in  claim 2 . 
     
     
       5. The picture frame with picture as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a separate backing card ( 90 ) comprising a rectangular panel ( 92 ), and four side panels ( 94 ) formed along four side edges of the rectangular panel ( 92 ) respectively such that after the four side panels ( 94 ) are folded 90 degrees towards one side of the rectangular panel ( 92 ) about four backing card fold lines ( 96 ) formed along the four side edges of the rectangular panel ( 92 ) respectively, the folded backing card ( 90 ) is insertable into a rectangular space defined by the four rectangular tubular frame sections ( 50 ,  50 ′) in the folded position such that the rectangular panel ( 92 ) rests on the rear surface ( 16 ) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) and the four side panels ( 94 ) snugly abut against the second elongate lock panels ( 44 ,  44 ′) of the four rectangular tubular frame sections ( 50 ,  50 ′) respectively. 
     
     
       6. The picture frame with picture as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising four square bracket-shaped slits ( 100 ) each having a shape of a square bracket “[” formed on each backing card fold line ( 96 ), and when the backing card fold line ( 90 ) is folded, a slot ( 102 ) and a projection ( 104 ) having a shape of a square bracket “[” are formed;
 wherein a corresponding square bracket-shaped slit ( 100 ′) is further formed on each fold line ( 34 ,  34 ′) between the second elongate lock panel ( 44 ,  44 ′) and the elongate end panel ( 46 ) of each of the four wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ′), and when the fold line ( 34 ,  34 ′) is folded, a slot ( 102 ′) and a projection ( 104 ′) having a shape of a square bracket “[” are formed; 
 whereby the four projections ( 104 ) formed on the backing card ( 90 ) are insertable into the four corresponding slots ( 102 ′) formed on the four rectangular tubular frame sections ( 50 ,  50 ′) after the four wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ′) are folded into the folded position, thereby locking the four rectangular tubular frame sections ( 50 ,  50 ′) in the folded position. 
 
     
     
       7. The blank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the four margins ( 32 ,  32 ′) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) at the front surface ( 14 ) thereof are further printed thereon with the frame-simulating printing simulating the frame surface of the conventional photo frame, and the picture ( 18 ) is printed on the front surface ( 14 ) within the four margins ( 32 ,  32 ′). 
     
     
       8. The blank as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a first rectangular border line ( 41 ) printed on the front surface ( 14 ) along a rectangular inner boundary of the four margins ( 32 ,  32 ′), and a second rectangular border line ( 43 ) printed on the front surface ( 14 ) along a rectangular outer periphery of the picture ( 18 ) and spaced inwardly apart from the first rectangular border line ( 41 ) to thereby simulate the conventional photo frame with a picture mounted thereon. 
     
     
       9. The blank as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a corner panel ( 52 ) formed at each corner of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) between adjacent ends of the elongate frame-simulation panels ( 40 ,  40 ′) of the four wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ′), each corner panel ( 52 ) being formed with a diagonal fold line ( 54 ) whereby each corner panel ( 52 ) is foldable inwards about the diagonal fold line ( 54 ) when the four wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ′) are folded into the folded position. 
     
     
       10. The blank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two elongate end panels ( 46 ,  46 ) of the two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ) are adhered to the rear surface ( 16 ) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) at the first margin ( 32 ) thereof by glue or adhesive tapes ( 22 ). 
     
     
       11. The blank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a first opening ( 86 ) is formed on one of the two first elongate lock panels ( 42 ,  42 ) of the two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ), and a second opening ( 88 ) is formed on one of the two first elongate lock panels ( 42 ′,  42 ′) of the two opposite second wing portions ( 30 ′,  30 ′) to facilitate hanging of the picture frame with picture on a wall. 
     
     
       12. The blank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the blank body ( 12 ) is made of paperboard. 
     
     
       13. A method for producing a picture frame with picture from a blank of foldable sheet material, the method comprising:
 (a) forming a blank ( 10 ) comprising:
 a blank body ( 12 ) having a front surface ( 14 ) and a rear surface ( 16 ); 
 a central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) provided at a central portion of the blank body ( 12 ) and adapted to form thereon on the front surface ( 14 ) thereof a picture ( 18 ); 
 two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ) extending from two opposite first margins ( 32 ,  32 ) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) respectively; and 
 two opposite second wing portions ( 30 ′,  30 ′) extending from two opposite second margins ( 32 ′,  32 ′) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) respectively; 
 wherein each of the first and second wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ′) comprises four parallel fold lines ( 34 ,  34 ′) parallel with respect to the margin from which the wing portion extends, and defining an elongate frame-simulation panel ( 40 ,  40 ′), a first elongate lock panel ( 42 ,  42 ′), a second elongate lock panel ( 44 ,  44 ′) and an elongate end panel ( 46 ,  46 ′) in an order from the margin ( 32 ,  32 ′); each frame-simulation panel ( 40 ,  40 ′) being printed thereon with a frame-simulating printing simulating a frame surface of a conventional photo frame; and 
 
 (b) folding the four wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ′) rearwards about the fold lines ( 34 ,  34 ′) to a folded position where the four end panels ( 46 ,  46 ′) rest on the four margins ( 32 ,  32 ′) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) at the rear surface ( 16 ) thereof respectively, thereby forming four rectangular tubular frame sections ( 50 ,  50 ′) extending along the four margins ( 32 ,  32 ′) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) at the rear surface ( 16 ) thereof; 
 (c) forming, at the same time of forming the blank ( 10 ),
 an elongate panel extension ( 64 ) extending from each opposite end of each second elongate lock panels ( 44 ) of the two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ), and flippable about a transverse fold line ( 62 ) formed between the elongate panel extension ( 64 ) and the opposite end of the second elongate lock panel ( 44 ) of the two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ); 
 a slit ( 60 ) formed along each transverse fold line ( 62 ) at a middle portion thereof; and 
 a tab ( 66 ) formed at each opposite end of each second elongate lock panel ( 44 ′) of the two opposite second wing portions ( 30 ′,  30 ′); and 
 
 (d) flipping the four elongate panel extensions ( 64 ) 90 degrees about the transverse fold lines ( 62 ) towards the two opposite second margins ( 32 ′,  32 ′) after the two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ) are folded into the folded position, such that the elongate panel extensions ( 64 ) are held within the two tubular frame sections ( 50 ′,  50 ′) formed after the two opposite second wing portions ( 30 ′,  30 ′) are folded into the folded position, and wherein the four tabs ( 66 ) are inserted into and engaged with the four slits ( 60 ) respectively at four corners of the picture frame, thereby locking the four tubular frame sections ( 50 ,  50 ′) in the folded position. 
 
     
     
       14. The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising printing the picture ( 18 ) on the front surface ( 14 ) of the blank body ( 12 ) at the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) thereof at the same time of printing the frame-simulating printing. 
     
     
       15. The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising printing on the four margins ( 32 ,  32 ′) of the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ) at the front surface ( 14 ) thereof with the frame-simulating printing simulating the frame surface of the conventional photo frame at the same time of printing the picture ( 18 ), and the picture ( 18 ) is printed on the front surface ( 14 ) within the four margins ( 32 ,  32 ′). 
     
     
       16. The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising printing, at the same time of printing the frame-simulating printing, a first rectangular border line ( 41 ) on the front surface ( 14 ) along a rectangular inner boundary of the four margins ( 32 ,  32 ′), and a second rectangular border line ( 43 ) on the front surface ( 14 ) along a rectangular outer periphery of the picture ( 18 ) and spaced inwardly apart from the first rectangular border line ( 41 ) to thereby simulate the conventional photo frame with a picture mounted thereon. 
     
     
       17. The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 (a) forming, at the same time of forming the blank ( 10 ),
 a flap ( 70 ) on a side edge of each opposite end portion of each first elongate lock panel ( 42 ′) of the two opposite second wing portions ( 30 ′,  30 ′), and the side edge being contiguous with and perpendicular to the opposite end of the second elongate lock panel ( 44 ′) of the two opposite second wing portions ( 30 ′,  30 ′) on which the tab ( 66 ) is formed; and 
 a shaped slit ( 80 ) each being formed on each opposite end portion of each first elongate lock panel ( 42 ) of the two opposite first wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ), each shaped slit ( 80 ) comprising a transverse slit ( 81 ) and two longitudinal slits ( 82 ) extending from two opposite ends of the transverse slit ( 81 ) respectively towards a central portion of the first elongate lock panel ( 42 ), and each shaped slit ( 80 ) defining a temporarily covered aperture ( 83 ) and a cover ( 87 ), wherein the four flaps ( 70 ) are disposed over the four temporarily covered apertures ( 83 ) respectively after the four wing portions ( 30 ,  30 ′) are folded into the folded position; and 
 
 (b) flipping the four flaps ( 70 ) through the temporarily covered apertures ( 83 ) such that the four flaps ( 70 ) are engageable with the four apertures ( 83 ) respectively, thereby locking the four rectangular tubular frame sections ( 50 ,  50 ′) in the folded position. 
 
     
     
       18. The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising forming the picture ( 18 ) on a sheet of material ( 120 ), and adhering the sheet of material ( 120 ) with the picture ( 18 ) on the front surface ( 14 ) at the central rectangular picture portion ( 20 ).